Christmas

Time flies when it's crazy. We had a really good Christmas. It was nice to be with family and spend time with our own kids (and Scott who disappeared for a couple weeks due to working in retail). Highlights: Alyssa doing a hip-hop dance at her Christmas concert. She did well, it surprised me, I guess because I have no rhythm. FHE at the nursing home--always a good experience. Christian losing his other front tooth 2 days before Christmas. Christmas day the girls went to see The Princess and the Frog and the boys went to Avatar in 3D. Somehow the division of children just didn't seem fair, but we made it through. The grandmas spoiled us all, of course. And it was nice to spend a few moments in reflection on the year and the reason for the season. Hope everyone was as blessed as we were.

Waiting for Santa. We checked in on him and he had pulled up the shades and was asleep looking out the window. Aaaww.

New jammies and blankets from Grandma on Christmas Eve. So cute!

Cousin Kylee helping Soran open a present. I love the tongue!

Amber performed at her first Christmas concert (with her cousins, of course). They sang "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas" and "All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth." She knew all the words and it was so cute.

Christmas season begins

Soran enjoying her piece of the gingerbread

10 seconds after completion

Completed gingerbread house

I must be feeling better. I think this is my fifth post in a month. I have been amazed how much better I feel now than I did a few weeks ago. Scott told me that they actually took part of my kidney out because it was so infected and what a difference. I haven't had this much energy in months. So now I get to get ready for the holidays!
We made our gingerbread house for home evening this week. It went much better than last year. The kids were excited to do their piece. It turned out pretty cute. And after enjoying it for about 5 seconds they tore it apart and ate it. The sugar rush begins!
We went out and got our Christmas tree last night and decorated it so now it really does feel like the Christmas season has started. I haven't gotten any shopping done, so it hadn't really hit me yet. But I love having a tree that smells so good in the house. 22 more days!